Apparatus for handling change in orientation of terminal during wireless power transfer and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A wireless power transmitter for transmitting power by wireless to a terminal includes a power conversion unit and a power transmission control unit. The power conversion unit forms a wireless power signal for wireless power transfer using power supplied from a power supply unit. The power transmission control unit regulates a characteristic of the supplied power, based on orientation information of the terminal. A terminal includes a power receiving unit and a control unit. The power receiving unit receives a wireless power signal formed by a wireless power transmitter. The control unit detects whether or not an orientation of the terminal is changed while the wireless power signal is received, and transmits a control message for power regulation to the wireless power transmitter when the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless power transfer, and moreparticularly, to a wireless power transfer apparatus for controlling acharacteristic of power or controlling a terminal to change aconfiguration of the terminal when the orientation of the terminal ischanged during wireless power transfer, a terminal and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, terminals provide not only a basic communication function butalso various functions including a multimedia photographing andreproducing function, a game function, a digital broadcasting function,a wireless Internet function, etc. Such a terminal generally uses abattery for the purpose of portability.

The battery of the terminal requires charging. The charging method ofthe battery may be a wired charging method and a wireless chargingmethod. The wired charging method is currently generalized, but awireless charging system using an electromagnetic induction phenomenonhas recently been developed. The wireless charging system uses a methodof applying power to a wireless power transmitter having a coil includedtherein and charging a battery using induction current generated in acoil included in a terminal or battery due to the electromagnetic fieldgenerated in the coil of the wireless power transmitter, and the methodis divided into inductive coupling and electromagnetic resonancecoupling. That is, in the wireless charging system, the terminal ispositioned within the range of the wireless power transmitter generatingan electromagnetic field, so that the charging of the battery can beeasily performed.

However, when the distance from the wireless power transmitter to theterminal is increased or when the position of the terminal is separatedfrom a certain range of the wireless power transmitter, the chargingefficiency of the wireless charging method using the inductive couplingis lowered. Therefore, when the terminal is separated from the range ofthe wireless power transmitter, the terminal cannot be charged to themaximum efficiency so as to perform various functions of the terminal.Accordingly, it is necessary to easily perform the functions of theterminal without separating the terminal from the range of the wirelesspower transmitter.

To satisfy such a necessity, a charging method using the electromagneticresonance coupling has been developed, which prevents the lowering ofthe charging efficiency according to the distance between the wirelesspower transmitter and the terminal, but there is still an inconveniencein using the terminal during the charging of the terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wirelesspower transmitter for informing a terminal of the separation ororientation of the terminal of the wireless power transmitter orcontrolling the terminal to perform a specific function based onorientation information of the terminal without separating the terminalfrom the range of the wireless power transmitter, during thetransmission of power by wireless to the terminal, and a method thereof.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a wireless power transmitter for transmitting power bywireless to a terminal, including: a power conversion unit configured toform a wireless power signal for wireless power transfer using powersupplied from a power supply unit; and a power transmission control unitconfigured to regulate a characteristic of the supplied power, based onorientation information of the terminal.

The characteristic of the supplied power may be regulated so that awireless power transmission method is converted, and the wireless powertransmission method may include inductive coupling or electromagneticresonance coupling.

The characteristic of the supplied power may be regulated so that apower transmission speed is increased.

The wireless power transmitter may further include an output unitconfigured to visually or auditorily output the orientation informationor information on the regulated characteristic of the power.

The power transmission control unit may detect an orientation of theterminal, based on a change in the power for forming the wireless powersignal.

The wireless power transmitter may further include a communication unitconfigured to perform data communication with the terminal. The powertransmission control unit may receive the orientation informationthrough the communication unit.

To achieve the above aspect of the present invention, there is provideda terminal including: a power receiving unit configured to receive awireless power signal formed by a wireless power transmitter; and acontrol unit configured to detect whether or not an orientation of theterminal is changed while the wireless power signal is received, andtransmit a control message for power regulation to the wireless powertransmitter when the change in the orientation of the terminal isdetected.

The control message for power regulation may be a message that requeststhe wireless power transmitter to finish the wireless power transferthrough the wireless power signal.

The control message for power regulation may be a message that requeststhe wireless power transmitter to convert the power transmission method.

The control message for power regulation may be a message that requeststhe wireless power transmitter to change the power transmission speed ofthe wireless power signal.

The control unit may determine the power transmission speed, based onthe changed orientation of the terminal, and the power transmissionspeed may include rapid charging or general charging.

When the change of the orientation of the terminal is detected, thecontrol unit may control the terminal to output information on thetransmitted power.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, and thestrength of the wireless power signal is smaller than a critical value,the control unit may visually or auditorily notify that the orientationof the terminal has been changed.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, thecontrol unit may execute a predetermined program.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, thecontrol unit may change a configuration, based on the changedorientation of the terminal.

The orientation of the terminal may represent a direction of theterminal placed on an interface surface of the wireless powertransmitter, and the direction of the terminal may be determined basedon whether the direction of the terminal is a relative direction of amain body of the terminal with respect to a reference location on theinterface surface or a direction in which the main body of the terminalviews the interface surface.

The control unit may detect the change in the orientation of theterminal by detecting whether the direction of the main body of theterminal is changed between portrait and landscape directions or whetherthe surface viewing the interface surface is changed between top andbottom sides of the main body of the terminal.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, thecontrol unit may change the configuration so that a sound signal isoutput to a speaker.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected duringreceiving of a call signal, the control unit may receive the call signaland change the configuration so that a sound signal is output to aspeaker.

When the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected duringreceiving of a call signal, the control unit may receive the call andtransmit voice data to another terminal receiving the call, or may notreceive the call but transmit character data to another terminalreceiving the call.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a user easilyperforms various functions of the terminal without separating theterminal from a certain range of a wireless power transmitter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view conceptually illustrating a wireless powertransmitter and a terminal according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are block diagrams illustrating configurations ofthe wireless power transmitter and the terminal, applicable inembodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterfurther including an additional configuration in addition to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2(a);

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminalwhen the terminal is implemented in the form of a mobile terminalaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5a and 5(b) are flowcharts illustrating a process of handling achange in orientation of the terminal during wireless power transferaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are exemplary views illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Technical terms used in this specification are used to merely illustratespecific embodiments, and should be understood that they are notintended to limit the present disclosure. As far as not being defineddifferently, all terms used herein including technical or scientificterms may have the same meaning as those generally understood by anordinary person skilled in the art to which the present disclosurebelongs to, and should not be construed in an excessively comprehensivemeaning or an excessively restricted meaning. In addition, if atechnical term used in the description of the present disclosure is anerroneous term that fails to clearly express the idea of the presentdisclosure, it should be replaced by a technical term that can beproperly understood by the skilled person in the art. In addition,general terms used in the description of the present disclosure shouldbe construed according to definitions in dictionaries or according toits front or rear context, and should not be construed to have anexcessively restrained meaning.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Itwill be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence and/or addition of one or more otherfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

In the following description, suffixes “module” and “unit or portion”for components used herein in description are merely provided only forfacilitation of preparing this specification, and thus they are notgranted a specific meaning or function.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films and regions areexaggerated for clarity. Like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and variations can be made in the presentinvention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Description will now be given in detail of an apparatus for handling achange in orientation of a terminal during wireless power transfer and amethod thereof according to an embodiment, with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view conceptually illustrating a wireless powertransmitter and a terminal according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 1, the wireless power transmitter100 may be a power transmission apparatus that transmits required powerby wireless to the terminal 200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may be a wireless charging apparatusthat charges a battery of the terminal 200 by transferring power bywireless to the terminal 200. An embodiment in which the wireless powertransmitter 100 is implemented as a wireless charging apparatus will bedescribed later with reference to FIG. 3.

In addition, the wireless power transmitter 100 may be implemented asvarious types of apparatuses for transmitting power to the terminal 200that requires the power in the state in which the wireless powertransmitter 100 does not come in contact with the terminal 200.

The terminal 200 is a device that can operate by receiving power bywireless from the wireless power transmitter 100. The terminal 200 maycharge the battery using the received wireless power.

Meanwhile, it should be construed that the terminal 200 receiving powerby wireless includes all electronic devices, e.g., a mobile phone, acellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), aportable multimedia player (PMP) and a tablet or multimedia devices, aswell as input/output apparatuses such as a keyboard, a mouse and a videoor audio auxiliary output device.

The terminal 200, as will be described later, may be a mobilecommunication terminal (e.g., a mobile phone, cellular phone or tablephone) or a multimedia device. An embodiment in which the terminal 200is implemented as a mobile communication terminal will be describedlater with reference to FIG. 4.

Meanwhile, the wireless power transmitter 100 may use one or morewireless power transmission methods so as to transmit power by wirelessto the terminal 200 without any contact between the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the terminal 200. That is, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may transmit power using one or more of inductivecoupling and electromagnetic resonance coupling. Here, the inductivecoupling is based on an electromagnetic induction phenomenon occurringdue to the wireless power signal, and the electromagnetic resonancecoupling is based on an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon occurringdue to a wireless power signal of a specific frequency.

The wireless power transfer using the inductive coupling is a techniquefor transferring power by wireless using primary and secondary coils. Inthe wireless power transfer using the inductive coupling, current isinduced to another coil by a variable magnetic field generated in onecoil by the electromagnetic induction phenomenon, thereby transferringpower.

In the wireless power transfer using the electromagnetic resonancecoupling, electromagnetic resonance is generated in the terminal 200 bythe wireless power signal transmitted from the wireless powertransmitter 100, and power is transmitted from the wireless powertransmitter 100 to the terminal 200 by the electromagnetic resonancephenomenon.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the wireless power transmitter 100 and theterminal 200, which are disclosed in the present disclosure, will bedescribed in detail. In adding reference numerals to components of eachdrawing, it is noted that the same reference numerals are used todesignate the same components even though the same components are shownin other drawings.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are block diagrams illustrating configurations ofthe wireless power transmitter 100 and the terminal 200, applicable inembodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

FIG. 2(a)—Wireless Power Transmitter

Referring to FIG. 2(a), the wireless power transmitter 100 includes apower transmission unit 110. The power transmission unit 110 may includea power conversion unit 111 and a power transmission control unit 112.

The power conversion unit 111 converts power supplied from a powersupply unit 190 of the wireless power transmitter 100 into a wirelesspower signal and transmits the converted wireless power signal to theterminal 200. The wireless power signal transmitted by the powerconversion unit 111 is formed in a magnetic field or electromagneticfield which is oscillated. To this end, the power conversion unit 111may include a coil through which the wireless power signal is generated.

The power conversion unit 111 may include a component for generating awireless power signal according to each of the wireless powertransmission methods.

In some embodiments, the power conversion unit 111 may include a primarycoil for generating a variable magnetic field so as to induce current toa secondary coil of the terminal 200 according to the inductivecoupling. In some embodiment, the power conversion unit 111 may includea coil (or antenna) for generating a magnetic field having a specificfrequency so as to cause a resonance phenomenon to occur in the terminal200 according to the electromagnetic resonance coupling.

In some embodiment, the power conversion unit 111 may transmit powerusing one or more of the inductive coupling and the electromagneticresonance coupling.

Meanwhile, the power conversion unit 111 may further include a circuitcapable of controlling characteristics of frequency used to generate thewireless power signal, applied voltage, current, etc.

The power transmission control unit 112 controls each of the componentsincluded in the power transmission unit 110. In some embodiments, thepower transmission control unit 112 may be implemented to be integratedwith another control unit (not shown) controlling the wireless powertransmitter 100.

Meanwhile, the area in which the wireless power signal can approach maybe divided into two areas. First, an active area refers to an areathrough which the wireless power signal for transmitting power to theterminal 200 passes. Next, a semi-active area refers to an interest areain which the wireless power transmitter 100 can sense the existence ofthe terminal 200. Here, the power transmission control unit 112 maysense whether the terminal 200 has been placed in or removed from theactive area or the semi-active area. Specifically, the powertransmission control unit 112 may sense whether the terminal 200 hasbeen displaced in the active area or the semi-active area, using thewireless power signal generated in the power conversion unit 111 orusing a separate sensor. For example, the power transmission controlunit 112 may sense the existence of the terminal 200 by monitoringwhether or not the property of power for generating the wireless powersignal in the power conversion unit 111 is changed due to the wirelesspower signal influenced by the terminal 200 existing in the semi-activearea. However, the active area and the semi-active area may be changeddepending on the wireless power transmission method including theinductive coupling, the electromagnetic resonance coupling, etc.

The location of the active area may be displayed on an interface surfaceof the wireless power transmitter 100 or the terminal 200, for example,using a method of displaying a logo or another visual marking. Theactive area may be centered within the interface surface of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 or the terminal 200.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the terminal200 is placed in the active area or semi-active area, the powertransmission control unit 112 may sense an orientation of the terminal200. Specifically, the power transmission control unit 112 may sensewhether or not the terminal 200 has an orientation in the active area orsemi-active area using a change in strength of a wireless power signalformed in the power conversion unit 111. The orientation indicates thedirection of the terminal 200 placed on the interface surface of thewireless power transmitter 100, and the direction of the terminal 200 isdetermined based on whether or not the direction of the terminal 200 isthe relative direction of a main body of the terminal 200 with respectto a reference location on the interface surface or the direction inwhich the main body of the terminal 200 views the interface surface. Thepower transmission control unit 112 senses a change in orientation bydetecting whether the direction of the main body of the terminal 200 ischanged between portrait and landscape directions or whether the surfaceviewing the interface surface is changed between top and bottom sides ofthe main body of the terminal 200, based on the intensity of current orvoltage of the changed wireless power signal. The power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may inform the terminal 200 of whether or not theorientation has been changed, using a method of data communication,etc., through the communication unit 130.

The power transmission control unit 112 may determine whether to performa process of identifying the terminal 200 or to initiate wireless powertransfer, based on the result obtained by detecting the existence of theterminal 200.

The power transmission control unit 112 may determine one or morecharacteristics of the frequency, voltage and current of the powerconversion unit 111 for generating the wireless power signal. Thedetermination of the characteristics may be made under a condition ofthe wireless power transmitter 100 or under a condition of the terminal200. In some embodiments, the power transmission control unit 112 maydetermine the characteristics based on device identification informationof the terminal 200. In some embodiments, the power transmission controlunit 112 may determined the characteristics based on required powerinformation of the terminal 200 or profile information on the requiredpower of the terminal 200.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when theorientation of the terminal 200 is sensed, the power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may change one or more characteristics of thefrequency, voltage and current used to form a wireless power signal,based on orientation information. This may be represented in the form ofrapid charging, general charging, etc.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when theorientation of the terminal 200 is sensed, the power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may perform conversion of the wireless powertransmission method between the inductive coupling and theelectromagnetic resonance coupling, based on the orientationinformation. The conversion of the wireless power transmission methodenables a method having higher charging efficiency to be selectedaccording to the distance between the wireless power transmitter 100 andthe terminal 200 in the transmission of power by wireless.

The power transmission control unit 112 may receive a power controlmessage from the terminal 200. The power transmission control unit 112may determine one or more characteristics of the frequency, voltage andcurrent of the power conversion unit 111, based on the received powercontrol message. In addition, the power transmission control unit 112may perform another control operation based on the power controlmessage.

For example, the power transmission control unit 112 may determine oneor more characteristics of the frequency, voltage and current used togenerate the wireless power signal, based on the power control messagecontaining one or more of rectified electric energy information,charging state information and identification information of theterminal 200.

As another control operation using the power control message, thewireless power transmitter 100 may perform a general control operationrelated to wireless power transfer based on the power control message.For example, the wireless power transmitter 100 may receive informationto be audibly or visibly output in relation to the terminal 200 or mayreceive information necessary for authentication between devices,through the power control message.

To receive the power control message described above, the powertransmission control unit 112 may use at least one of a method ofreceiving a power control message through a wireless power signal and amethod of receiving other user data.

To receive the power control message, the wireless power transmitter 100may further include a modulation/demodulation unit 113 electricallyconnected to the power conversion unit 111. The modulation/demodulationunit 113 may be used to receive the power control message through awireless power signal.

In addition, the power transmission control unit 112 may obtain thepower control message by receiving user data containing the powercontrol message using a communication means (not shown) included in thewireless power transmitter 100.

FIG. 2(b)—Terminal

Referring to FIG. 2(b), the terminal 200 includes a power supply unit290. The power supply unit 290 supplies power necessary for theoperation of the terminal 200. The power supply unit 290 may include apower receiving unit 291 and a power receiving control unit 292.

The power receiving unit 291 receives power transmitted by wireless fromthe wireless power transmitter 100.

The power receiving unit 291 may include a component necessary forreceiving the wireless power signal according to the wireless powertransmission method. The power receiving unit 291 may receive poweraccording to one or more wireless power transmission methods. In thiscase, the power receiving unit 291 may include components requiredaccording to each of the wireless power transmission methods.

First, the power receiving unit 291 may include a coil for receiving awireless power signal transmitted in the form of a magnetic orelectromagnetic field having a vibration property.

For example, in some embodiments, the power receiving unit 291 mayinclude a secondary coil to which current is induced by a magnetic fieldchanged as a component according to the inductive coupling. In someembodiments, the power receiving unit 291 may include a resonancegeneration circuit and a coil in which electromagnetic resonance isgenerated by a magnetic field having a specific resonance frequency as acomponent according to the electromagnetic resonance coupling.

However, in some embodiments, the power receiving unit 291 may receivepower according to one or more of wireless power transmission methods.In this case, the power receiving unit 291 may be implemented to receivepower using one coil or may be implemented to receive power using a coilformed according to each of the wireless power transmission methods.

Meanwhile, the power receiving unit 291 may further include a rectifyingcircuit and a smoothing circuit, which convert the wireless power signalinto a DC signal. The power receiving unit 291 may further include acircuit for preventing overvoltage or overcurrent from being generatedby the received power signal.

The power receiving control unit 292 controls each of the componentsincluded in the power supply unit 290.

Specifically, the power receiving control unit 292 may transmit a powercontrol message to the wireless power transmitter 100. The power controlmessage may be used to initiate or finish transmitting a wireless powersignal to the wireless power transmitter 100. The power control messagemay be used to instruct the wireless power transmitter 100 to controlcharacteristics of the wireless power signal.

In some embodiments, the power receiving control unit 292 may transmitthe power control message through the wireless power signal. In someembodiment, the power receiving control unit 292 may transmit the powercontrol message using at least one of a method of transmitting the powercontrol message through a wireless power signal and a method oftransmitting the power control message through other user data.

To transmit a power control message, the terminal 200 may furtherinclude a modulation/demodulation unit electrically connected to thepower receiving unit 291. The modulation/demodulation unit 293, likethat of the wireless power transmitter 100 described above, may be usedto transmit the power control message through the wireless power signal.The modulation/demodulation unit 293 may be used as a means forcontrolling current and/or voltage flowing through the power conversionunit 111 of the wireless power transmitter 100.

In some embodiments, the power receiving control unit 292 may transmit apower control message to the wireless power transmitter 100 bytransmitting user data containing the power control message using acommunication means (not shown) included in the terminal 200.

In addition, the power supply unit 290 may further include a chargingunit 298 and a battery 299.

The terminal 200 receiving power for its operation from the power supplyunit 290 may be operated by the power transmitted from the wirelesspower transmitter 100, or may be operated by the power charged to thebattery 299 using the transmitted power. In this case, the powerreceiving control unit 292 may control the charging unit 298 to performthe charging of the battery using the transmitted power.

Hereinafter, an example of the wireless power transmitter 100implemented in the form of a wireless charger will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterfurther including an additional configuration in addition to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2(a).

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 3, the wireless power transmitter100 may further include a sensor unit 120, a communication unit 130, anoutput unit 140, a memory 150 and a control unit 180, in addition to thepower transmission unit 110 and the power supply unit 190, which supportone or more of the inductive coupling and the electromagnetic resonancecoupling.

The control unit 180 controls the power transmission unit 110, thesensor unit 120, the communication unit 130, the output unit 140, thememory 150 and the power supply unit 190.

The sensor unit 120 may include a sensor that senses the position of theterminal 200. Information on the position sensed by the sensor unit 120may be used so that the power transmission unit 110 can efficientlytransmit power.

For example, in the wireless power transmission according to theembodiments supporting the inductive coupling, the sensor unit 120 mayoperate as a position detection unit. The information on the positionsensed by the sensor unit 120 may be used to move or rotate a transfercoil in the power conversion unit 111.

For example, the wireless power transmitter 100 according to theembodiments configured to the one or more transfer coils described abovemay determine coils, among the one or more transfer coils, which may bein the inductive coupling relationship or electromagnetic resonancecoupling relationship with the receiving coil of the electronic device,based on location information of the terminal 200.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, thesensor unit 120 may be configured to sense whether or not theorientation of the terminal 200 has been changed. For example, thesensor unit 120 may sense the presence of rotation of the terminal 200,the rotational direction of the terminal 200 or whether the output unit140 of the terminal 200 contacts the wireless power transmitter 100 bysensing the position, weight and contact surface of the terminal 200.This may be performed in the power transmission control unit 112 of thewireless power transmitter 100. The wireless power transmitter 100 mayuse both the methods so as to determine the orientation of the terminalor to improve accuracy using one of both the methods.

The sensor unit 120 may be configured to monitor whether or not theterminal 200 comes close to an area in which charging is possible. Thefunction of sensing whether or not the sensor unit 120 comes close maybe performed separately from or combined with the function that thepower transmission control unit 112 in the power transmission unit 110senses whether or not the electronic device comes close.

The communication unit 130 performs wire/wireless data communicationwith the terminal 200. The communication unit 130 may include electroniccomponents for one or more of Bluetooth™, Zigbee, ultra wide band (UWB),wireless USB, near field communication (NFC) and wireless LAN.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the communicationunit 130 may perform communication of data containing a control messagefor controlling each configuration area of the terminal 200 from thewireless power transmitter 100. When a call is received to the terminal200 or when a user receives the received call so as to initiatecommunication, the communication unit 130 may receive, from the terminal200, data containing information on the received call or video and/oraudio information contained in the initiated communication.

The output unit 140 includes at least one of a display unit 141 and aaudio output unit 142. The display unit 141 may include at least one ofa liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystaldisplay (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexibledisplay and a 3D display. The display unit 141 may display a chargingstate under a control of the control unit 180.

The memory 150 may include a storage medium of at least one of a flashmemory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card typememory (e.g., an SD or XD memory, etc.), a random access memory (RAM), astatic random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anelectrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aprogrammable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic diskand an optic disk. The wireless power transmitter 100 may operate inrelation to web storage for performing a storage function of the memory150 on the Internet.

Programs or commands executing the aforementioned functions of thewireless power transmitter 100 may be stored in the memory 150. Thecontrol unit 180 may execute the programs or commands stored in thememory 150 so as to transfer power by wireless. A memory controller (notshown) may be used so that other components (e.g., the control unit 180)included in the wireless power transmitter 100 access the memory 150.

Storage of Event According to Orientation

The power supply unit 190 receives power from the outside and suppliesthe received power so that the wireless power transmitter 100 operates.The wireless power transmitter 100 converts a portion of the powersupplied from the power supply unit 190 into a wireless power signal andtransmits the wireless power signal to the terminal 200.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that theconfiguration of the wireless power transmitter 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to devices such asa docking station, a terminal cradle device and other electronicdevices, except that the configuration of the wireless power transferapparatus is applicable to only the wireless charger.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminalwhen the terminal 200 is implemented in the form of a mobile terminalaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal 200 includes the power supply unit 290 shown in FIG.2.

The mobile terminal 200 may further include a wireless communicationunit 210, audio/video (A/V) input unit 220, a user input unit 230, asensing unit 240, an output unit 250, a memory 260, an interface unit270 and a control unit 280. The components shown in FIG. 4 are notessential, and therefore, the mobile terminal may be implemented to havea larger number of components or to have a smaller number of components.

Hereinafter, the components will be sequentially described.

The wireless communication unit 210 may include one or more modules thatenable wireless communication between the mobile terminal 200 and awireless communication system, between the mobile terminal 200 and anetwork in which the mobile terminal 200 is placed, or between themobile terminal 200 and the wireless power transmitter 100. For example,the wireless communication unit 210 may include a broadcast receivingmodule 211, a mobile communication module 212, a wireless Internetmodule 213, a short range communication module 214, a locationinformation module 215, etc.

The broadcast receiving module 211 receives a broadcasting signal and/orbroadcasting related information from an external broadcasting centerthrough a broadcasting channel.

The broadcasting channel may include a satellite channel and aterrestrial channel. The broadcasting center may mean a server thatgenerates a broadcasting signal and/or broadcasting related informationand transfers the generated broadcasting signal and/or broadcastingrelated information to the mobile terminal or a server that receives apreviously generated broadcasting signal and/or broadcasting relatedinformation and transfer the received broadcasting signal and/orbroadcasting related information to the mobile terminal. Thebroadcasting signal may include not only a TV broadcasting signal, aradio broadcasting signal and a data broadcasting signal but also abroadcasting signal obtained by combining the data broadcasting signalwith the TV broadcasting signal or radio broadcasting signal.

The broadcasting related information may mean information related to abroadcasting channel, broadcasting program or broadcasting serviceprovider. The broadcasting related information may be provided through amobile communication network. In this case, the broadcasting relatedinformation may be received by the mobile communication module 212.

The broadcasting related information may exist in various forms. Forexample, the broadcasting related information may exist in the form ofan electronic program guide (EPG) of digital multimedia broadcasting(DMB), electronic service guide (ESG) of digital broadcast-handheld(DVB-H), etc.

The broadcast receiving module 211 may receive a digital broadcastingsignal, for example, using a digital broadcasting system such as digitalmultimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimediabroadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), media forward link only (MediaFLO),digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) or integrated servicedigital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T). It will be apparent that thebroadcast receiving module 211 may be configured to be suitable for notonly the digital broadcasting system but also another broadcastingsystem.

The broadcasting signal and/or the broadcasting related informationreceived through the broadcast receiving module 211 may be stored in thememory 260.

The mobile communication module 212 transmits/receives a wireless signalwith at least one of a base station, an external terminal and a serveron the mobile communication network. The wireless signal may include avoice call signal, a video call signal and various types of dataaccording to character/multimedia message transmission/reception.

The wireless Internet module 213 refers to a module for wirelessInternet access, and may be built in the mobile terminal 200 or mountedto the outside of the mobile terminal 200. The wireless Internet accessmay include wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), worldinteroperability for microwave access (Wimax), high speed downlinkpacket access (HSDPA), etc.

The short range communication module 214 refers to a module for shortrange communication. The wireless short range communication may includeBluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared dataassociation (IrDA), ZigBee, etc. Meanwhile, the wired short rangecommunication may include universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394,Thunderbolt™, etc.

The short range communication module 214 may establish datacommunication connection with the wireless power transmitter 100.

When there exists an audio signal to be output while transmitting powerby wireless through the established data communication, the short rangecommunication module 214 may transfer the audio signal to the wirelesspower transmitter 100 through the short range communication module. Whenthere exists information to be displayed through the established datacommunication, the short range communication module 214 may transfer theinformation to the wireless power transmitter 100. Alternatively, theshort range communication module 214 may receive an audio signal inputthrough a microphone built in the wireless power transmitter 100 throughthe established data communication. The short range communication module214 may transfer identification information (e.g., a phone number ordevice name in a cellular phone) of the mobile terminal 200 to thewireless power transmitter 100 through the established datacommunication.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the short rangecommunication module 214 may perform communication of data containing acontrol message for controlling each function of the mobile terminal 200from the wireless power transmitter 100. When a call is received to themobile terminal 200 or when a user receives the received call so as toinitiate communication, the short range communication module 214 mayreceive, from the mobile terminal 200, data containing information onthe received call or video and/or audio information contained in theinitiated communication.

The location information module 215 refers to a module for obtaining theposition of the mobile terminal, and a global positioning system (GPS)module may be used as an example of the location information module 215.

Referring to FIG. 4, the A/V input unit 220 is used to input an audio orvideo signal, and may include a camera 221, a microphone 222, etc. Thecamera 221 processes an image frame such as a still image or movingimage obtained by an image sensor in a video call mode or photographingmode. The processed image frame may be displayed in the display unit251.

The image frame processed in the camera 221 may be stored in the memory260 or may be transferred to the outside through the wirelesscommunication unit 210. The camera 221 may be provided with two or morecameras according to the environment used.

The microphone 222 receives an external sound signal in a call mode,recording mode, voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the receivedsound signal as voice data. The processed voice data may be convertedand output to be transferred to a mobile communication station throughthe mobile communication module 212 in the call mode. Various noiseremoving algorithms for removing noise generated in the process ofreceiving an external sound signal may be implemented in the microphone222.

The user input unit 230 generates input data for controlling theoperation of a user terminal. The user input unit 230 may be configuredas a key pad, dome switch, touch pad (static voltage/static current), ajog wheel, jog switch, etc.

The sensing unit 240 may include a proximity sensor 241, a pressuresensor, a motion sensor 243, etc. The proximity sensor 241 may detect,without any mechanical contact, an object approaching the mobileterminal 200, an object existing in the vicinity of the mobile terminal200, etc. The proximity sensor 241 may detect an object approaching themobile terminal 200 using a change in AC magnetic field or staticmagnetic field, a change in capacitance, etc. The proximity sensor 241may be provided with two or more proximity sensors according to theenvironment used.

The pressure sensor 242 may detect whether or not pressure is applied tothe mobile terminal 200, the strength of the pressure, etc. The pressuresensor 242 may be mounted at a portion necessary for detection ofpressure in the mobile terminal 200 according to the environment used.If the pressure sensor 242 is mounted in the display unit 251, thepressure sensor 242 may identify a touch input through the display unit251 and a pressure touch input of which pressure is greater than that ofthe touch input, according to the signal output from the pressure sensor242. The pressure sensor 242 may detect the strength of the pressureapplied to the display unit 251 when a pressure touch is input,according to the signal output from the pressure sensor 242.

The motion sensor 243 senses a position or motion of the mobile terminal200 using an acceleration sensor, gyro sensor, etc. The accelerationsensor used for the motion sensor 243 is an element that changes achange in acceleration in any one direction into an electrical signal.The acceleration sensor is generally configured by mounting two or threeaxes in one package, and may require only one axis, i.e., the Z-axisaccording to the environment used. Therefore, when an accelerationsensor in the direction of the X- or Y-axis is used other than that inthe direction of the Z-axis, the acceleration sensor may be mountedvertically to a main board using a separate piece of board. The gyrosensor is a sensor that measures an angular speed of the mobile terminal200 performing a rotary motion, and may sense an angle at which themobile terminal 200 is rotated with respect to each reference direction.For example, the gyro sensor may sense rotational angles, i.e., anazimuth, a pitch and a roll, with respect to the three directional axes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the orientation ofthe mobile terminal 200 may be sensed using the sensor.

The output unit 250 is used to generate an output related to a visualsense, auditory sense, a haptic sense, etc. The output unit 250 mayinclude a display unit 251, a audio output module 252, an alarm unit253, a haptic module 254, etc.

The display unit 251 displays (outputs) information processed in themobile terminal 200. For example, when the mobile terminal 200 is in acall mode, the display unit 251 displays a user interface (UI) orgraphic user interface (GUI) related to a call. When the mobile terminal200 is in a video call mode or photographing mode, the display unit 251displays a photographed or/and received image, UI or GUI.

The display unit 251 may include at least one of an LCD, a TFT LCD, anOLED, a flexible display and a 3D display.

Some of these displays may be configured as transparent orlight-transmissive displays through which a user can see an outsideview. These displays may be called as transparent displays, andtransparent OLED, etc. may be used as a representative of thetransparent displays. The rear structure of the display unit 251 mayalso be configured as a light-transmissive structure. Through such astructure, the user can see an object positioned at the rear of themobile terminal 200 through an area occupied by the display unit 251 ofthe mobile terminal 200.

Two or more display units 251 may exist according to the implementedform of the mobile terminal 200. For example, a plurality of displayunits may be spaced apart or integrally displaced on one surface, or maybe displaced on different surfaces, respectively.

When the display unit 251 and a sensor sensing a touch operation(hereinafter, referred to as a ‘touch sensor’) form an inter-layerstructure (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘touch screen’), the displayunit 251 may be used as an input device as well as an output device. Thetouch sensor may have, for example, the form of a touch film, touchsheet, touch pad, etc.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressureapplied to a specific portion of the display unit 251 or capacitancegenerated at a specific portion of the display unit 251 into anelectrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detectnot only the position and area of a touched portion but also thepressure at the touched portion.

When there is a touch input for the touch sensor, a signal(s)corresponding to the touch input is sent to a touch controller. Thetouch controller processes the signal(s) and then transferscorresponding data to the control unit 280. Accordingly, the controlunit 280 can determine which area of the display unit 251 is touched,etc.

The proximity sensor 241 may be placed in an internal area of the mobileterminal surrounded by the touch screen or in the proximity of the touchscreen. The proximity sensor 241 refers to a sensor that senses, withoutany mechanical contact, an object approaching a predetermined detectionsurface or the presence of existence of an object existing near thepredetermined detection surface using an electromagnetic force orinfrared ray.

For example, the proximity sensor 241 includes a transmissivephotoelectric sensor, a mirror reflective photoelectric sensor, ahigh-frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximitysensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, etc.When the touch screen is a capacitive touch screen, the touch screen isconfigured to detect the proximity of a pointer through a change inelectric field according the proximity of the pointer. In this case, thetouch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as the proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of illustration, the action that thepointer comes close to the touch screen while not being contacted on thetouch screen so as to be recognized that the pointer is placed on thetouch screen is referred to as a “proximity touch,” and the action thatthe pointer is substantially contacted on the touch screen is referredto as a “contact touch.” The position at which the pointer isproximately touched on the touch screen means a position at which whenthe pointer is proximately touched, the pointer corresponds verticallyto the touch screen.

The proximity sensor 241 senses a proximity touch action and a proximitytouch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, proximity touchdirection, proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, proximitytouch position, proximity touch movement state, etc.). Informationcorresponding to the sensed proximity touch action and proximity touchpattern may be output on the touch screen.

The audio output module 252 may receive a call signal from the wirelesscommunication unit 210 in a call or recoding mode, voice recognitionmode, broadcast receiving mode, etc., and may output the audio datastored in the memory 260. The audio output module 252 may output a soundsignal related to a function (e.g., a call signal receiving sound,message receiving sound, etc.) performed by the mobile terminal 200. Theaudio output module 252 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer,etc.

The alarm unit 253 outputs a signal for informing that an event occursin the mobile terminal 200. The event occurring in the mobile terminal200 includes, for example, call signal reception, message reception, keysignal input, touch input, etc. The alarm unit 253 may output, forexample, a signal for informing the occurrence of an event throughvibration, as well as a video or audio signal. Since the video or audiosignal may be output through the display unit 251 or the audio outputmodule 252, the display unit 251 and the audio output module 252 may beclassified as a portion of the alarm unit 253.

The haptic module 254 generates various haptic effects that a user canfeel. A vibration is used as a representative of the haptic effectsgenerated by the haptic module 254. The intensity and pattern of thevibration generated by the haptic module 254 may be controlled. Forexample, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or may besequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 254 may generate varioushaptic effects including an effect caused by the arrangement of pinsperforming a vertical movement on a contact skin surface, an effectcaused by the jet force or absorption force of air through an absorptionport, an effect caused by the graze through a skin surface, an effectcaused by the contact of an electrode, an effect caused by a stimulussuch as an electrostatic force, an effect caused by the reproduction ofa cool and warm feeling using an element for heat absorption orgeneration, etc.

The haptic module 254 may be implemented not only to provide a user witha haptic effect through a direct contact but also to allow the user tofeel a haptic effect through a muscle sense using a finger, arm, etc.The haptic module 254 may be provided with two or more haptic modulesaccording to the environment used.

The memory 260 may store a program for operations of the control unit280, and may temporarily store input/output data (e.g., a phone book, amessage, a still image, a moving image, etc.). The memory 260 may storedata for vibration and sound of various patterns, which are output whena touch is input on the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the memory 260 may store software componentsincluding an operating system (not shown), a module performing thefunction of wireless communication unit 210, a module operating togetherwith the user input unit 230, a module operating together with the A/Vinput unit 220 and a module operating together with the output module250. The operating system (e.g., LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, Chrome,Symbian, iOS, Android, VxWorks or another embedded operating system) mayinclude various software components and/or drivers for controllingsystem tasks such as memory management and power management.

The memory 260 may store a configuration program related to wirelesspower transfer or wireless charging. The configuration program may beexecuted by the control unit 280.

The memory 260 may store an application related to the wireless powertransfer (or wireless charging) downloaded from an application providingserver (e.g., an App store). The application related to the wirelesspower transfer is a program for controlling the wireless power transfer.The electronic device 200 may receive power by wireless from thewireless power transmitter 100 through the corresponding program or mayestablish connection for data communication with the wireless powertransmitter 100.

The memory 260 may include a storage medium of at least one of a flashmemory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card typememory (e.g., an SD or XD memory, etc.), a RAM, an SRAM, a ROM, anEEPROM, a PROM, a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk and an optic disk.The mobile terminal 200 may operate in relation to a web storageperforming a storage function of the memory 260 on the Internet.

The interface unit 270 serves as a gateway to all external devicesconnected to the mobile terminal 200. The interface unit 270 may receivedata from an external device, may receive power and provide the receivedpower to each of the components in the mobile terminal 200, or may allowdata in the mobile terminal 200 to be transmitted to the externaldevice. For example, the interface unit 270 may include a wired/wirelessheadset port, an external charger port, a wired/wireless data port, amemory card port, a port for connecting an apparatus provided with anidentification module, an audio input/output (I/O) port, a video I/Oport, an earphone port, etc.

The identification module is a chip in which various information forauthenticating the use right of the mobile terminal 200, and may includea user identify module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), auniversal subscriber identity module USIM, etc. The apparatus providedwith the identification module (hereinafter, referred to as an‘identification apparatus’) may be manufactured in the form of a smartcard. Therefore, the identification apparatus may be connected to themobile terminal 200 through a port.

When the mobile terminal 200 is connected to an external cradle, theinterface unit 270 may become a path along which power is supplied fromthe cradle to the mobile terminal 200, or may become a path along whichvarious command signals input from the cradle are provided to the mobileterminal 200. The power or various command signals input from the cradlemay be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal 200has been exactly mounted to the cradle.

The control unit 280 generally controls overall operations of the mobileterminal 200. For example, the control unit 280 performs relativecontrol and processing for voice conversation, data communication, videoconversation, etc. The control unit 280 may have a multimedia module 281for multimedia reproduction. The multimedia module 281 may beimplemented in the control unit 280 or may be implemented separatelyfrom the control unit 280. The control unit 280 may be implemented as amodule separate from the power receiving control unit 292 in the powersupply unit 290 described with reference to FIG. 2, or may beimplemented as a single module.

The control unit 280 may perform pattern recognition processing so thata writing or drawing input performed on the touch screen can berecognized as a character or image.

The control unit 280 performs a wire or wireless charging operationaccording to a user input or internal input. The internal input is asignal for informing that inductive current generated in the secondarycoil of the mobile terminal has been sensed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit280 may sense an orientation of the mobile terminal 200. The orientationindicates the direction of the mobile terminal 200 placed on theinterface surface of the wireless power transmitter 100, and thedirection of the mobile terminal 200 is determined based on whether ornot the direction of the mobile terminal 200 is the relative directionof a main body of the mobile terminal 200 with respect to a referencelocation on the interface surface or the direction in which the mainbody of the mobile terminal 200 views the interface surface. The controlunit 280 senses a change in orientation by detecting whether thedirection of the main body of the mobile terminal 200 is changed betweenportrait and landscape directions or whether the surface viewing theinterface surface is changed between top and bottom sides of the mainbody of the mobile terminal 200, based on the intensity of current orvoltage of the changed wireless power signal.

As described above, the power receiving control unit 292 in the powersupply unit 290 may be included in the control unit 280 to beimplemented, and it can be understood that the operation of the powerreceiving control unit 292 is performed by the control unit 280.

The power supply unit 290 has a battery 299 supplying power to each ofthe components of the terminal 200, and may include a charging unit 298for charging the battery 299 by wire or wireless.

The present disclosure has disclosed the mobile terminal as the wirelesspower receiving apparatus. However, it can be readily understood bythose skilled in the art that the configuration according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a fixed terminalsuch as a digital TV or desktop computer, except a case in which theconfiguration according to the embodiments of the present disclosure isapplicable to only the mobile terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of handling a change inorientation of the terminal during wireless power transfer according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5(a) is a flowchart illustrating a process of regulating acharacteristic of power based on a change in orientation of theterminal. FIG. 5(b) is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing aconfiguration based on a change in orientation of the terminal.

Hereinafter, a method of handling a change in orientation of theterminal during wireless power transfer will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5(a) is a flowchart illustrating a process of regulating acharacteristic of power based on a change in orientation of theterminal.

Referring to FIG. 5(a), the wireless power transmitter 100 first detectsa change in orientation of the terminal 200 (S511).

The change in orientation enables the orientation of the terminal 200 tobe detected based on a change in power supplied from the wireless powertransmitter 100. The orientation indicates the direction of the mobileterminal 200 placed on the interface surface of the wireless powertransmitter 100, and the direction of the terminal 200 is determinedbased on whether or not the direction of the terminal 200 is therelative direction of a main body of the terminal 200 with respect to areference location on the interface surface or the direction in whichthe main body of the mobile terminal 200 views the interface surface.The power transmission control unit 112 senses a change in orientationby detecting whether the direction of the main body of the terminal 200is changed between portrait and landscape directions or whether thesurface viewing the interface surface is changed between top and bottomsides of the main body of the terminal 200, based on the intensity ofcurrent or voltage of the changed wireless power signal.

If the orientation of the terminal 200 is changed, all wireless powersignals transmitted from the wireless power transmitter 100 cannot betransmitted to the terminal 200 while the axes of coils of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 cross each other, andtherefore, the power for forming the transmitted wireless power signalis changed. In this case, the power transmission control unit 112 maysense the direction of the orientation of the terminal 200, i.e.,whether the terminal 200 is rotated to the left or right, and whetherthe display unit 251 of the terminal 200 contacts an upper portion ofthe wireless power transmitter 100, based on a change of power.

Alternatively, the change in the orientation of the terminal 200 may besensed by the sensor unit 120 of the wireless power transmitter 100. Thesensor unit 120 may sense the presence of rotation of the terminal 200,the rotational direction of the terminal 200 or whether the output unit140 of the terminal 200 contacts the wireless power transmitter 100 bysensing the position, weight and contact surface of the terminal 200.

Then, the wireless power transmitter 100 regulates a characteristic ofthe supplied power (S512).

For example, the wireless power transmitter 100 may change thetransmission method of wireless power. Specifically, when the wirelesspower transmitter 100 supports power transmission methods usinginductive coupling and electromagnetic resonance coupling, the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may convert one of the power transmission methodinto the other of the power transmission methods. When the terminal 200contacts the wireless power transmitter 100 in the state in which theaxes of the coils of the wireless power transmitter 100 and the terminal200 correspond to each other, the wireless power transmitter 100 maytransmit power with the maximum efficiency using the inductive coupling.However, when the terminal 200 does not contact the wireless powertransmitter 100 or when the axes of the coils of the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the terminal 200 cross each other due to the changein the orientation of the terminal 200, the wireless power transmitter100 transmits power with a higher efficiency using the electromagneticresonance coupling than that using the inductive coupling. Therefore,the charging method may be changed so that the wireless powertransmitter 100 efficiently transmits power according to the state ofthe orientation of the terminal 200.

Alternatively, for example, the power conversion unit 111 may transmitpower by wireless at a power transmission speed as high as possible inthe state in which the position and orientation of the terminal 200occurs.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may display a change in thecharacteristic of the power through the output unit 140 (S513). When theorientation of the terminal 200 is changed, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may visually or auditorily output information on thechange in orientation information on the regulated characteristic of thepower through the output unit 140 provided to the wireless powertransmitter 100.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the change inthe characteristic of the power transmitted by the wireless powertransmitter 100 may be made by generating a control message for powerregulation in the control unit 280 and transmitting the generatedcontrol message to the wireless power transmitter 100. In this case, thecontrol message is a message that requests the wireless powertransmitter 100 to change the power transmission method or a messagethat requests the wireless power transmitter 100 to change the powertransmission speed of a wireless power signal. Alternatively, thecontrol unit 280 of the terminal 200 may control the wireless powertransmitter 100 to output information on the transmitted power or maycontrol the wireless power transmitter 100 to visually or auditorilyinform that the orientation of the terminal 200 has been changed whenthe strength of the wireless power signal is smaller than a criticalvalue. Alternatively, when the orientation of the terminal 200 issensed, the control unit 280 of the terminal 200 may transmit, to thewireless power transmitter 100, a control message that requests thewireless power transmitter 100 to finish transferring power through thewireless power signal.

FIG. 5(b) is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing aconfiguration based on a change in orientation of the terminal.

Referring to FIG. 5(b), the power receiving unit 291 of the terminal 200receives a wireless power signal formed by the wireless powertransmitter 100 (S521), and the control unit 280 of the terminal 200detects information on a change in orientation of the terminal 200(S522).

The orientation indicates the direction of the mobile terminal 200placed on the interface surface of the wireless power transmitter 100,and the direction of the terminal 200 is determined based on whether ornot the direction of the terminal 200 is the relative direction of amain body of the terminal 200 with respect to a reference location onthe interface surface or the direction in which the main body of themobile terminal 200 views the interface surface. The power transmissioncontrol unit 112 senses a change in orientation by detecting whether thedirection of the main body of the terminal 200 is changed betweenportrait and landscape directions or whether the surface viewing theinterface surface is changed between top and bottom sides of the mainbody of the terminal 200, based on the intensity of current or voltageof the changed wireless power signal.

Information on the change in the orientation of the terminal 200 may bedetected by the power receiving control unit 292 of the terminal 200.Specifically, the power receiving control unit 292 may detect whether ornot the terminal 200 has an orientation using a change in wireless powersignal received by the terminal 200, while the wireless power signal isreceived from the wireless power transmitter 100. For example, the powerreceiving control unit 292 may detect the orientation of the terminal200, based on the intensity of current or voltage of the changedwireless power signal.

Then, the control unit 280 of the terminal 200 changes a configurationof the terminal 200, based on the detected orientation of the terminal200 (S523). For example, when the change in the orientation of theterminal 200 is detected while the terminal 200 receives a call, thecontrol unit 280 receives the call and changes the configuration of theterminal 200 so that a sound signal is output to a speaker.Alternatively, the control unit 280 of the terminal 200 receives thecall and transmits voice data to another terminal transmitting the call,or does not receive the call but changes the configuration of theterminal 200 so that character data is transmitted to another terminaltransmitting the call. Alternatively, when the orientation of theterminal 200 is detected, the control unit 280 of the terminal 200changes the configuration of the terminal 200 so that a sound signal isoutput to the speaker or controls the terminal 200 to execute apredetermined program.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which an event occurs based on theorientation of the terminal 200 will be described in detail. Theoccurrence of the event is generally performed through the process shownin FIG. 5, but a portion of the components or process may be changedwithin the scope of the present disclosure, which can be embodied bythose skilled in the art.

FIG. 6—First Embodiment

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure

Referring to FIG. 6, when the orientation of the terminal 200 ischanged, the wireless power transmitter 100 regulates a characteristicof power so that the wireless power transmission method is converted.Specifically, when the wireless power transmitter 100 supports powertransmission methods using inductive coupling and electromagneticresonance coupling, the wireless power transmitter 100 may convert oneof the power transmission method into the other of the powertransmission methods.

In case of the inductive coupling in a wireless power charging method,the efficiency of the wireless power charging method is high, but thedistance to which power can be transmitted is limited. Therefore, whenthe terminal 200 is distant from the wireless power transmitter 100 orwhen the axes of the coils of the wireless power transmitter 100 and theterminal 200 cross each other due to the change in the orientation ofthe terminal 200, the efficiency of the wireless power charging methodis rapidly decreased. However, although the terminal 200 is distant fromthe wireless power transmitter 100 or the axes of the coils cross eachother, the distance to which power is transmitted by wireless in theelectromagnetic resonance coupling is longer than that in the inductivecoupling. Hence, although the terminal 200 is distant up to a certaindistance from the wireless power transmitter 100, the efficiency of thewireless power charging method is not rapidly decreased.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 6, when the terminal supports bothcharging methods using the inductive coupling and the electromagneticresonance coupling, the wireless power transmitter 100 may flexiblychange one of both the charging methods into the other having highcharging efficiency, based on the position or orientation of theterminal 200, in the wireless power charging method. In case where thecharging efficiency is decreased when the charging method is performedusing the inductive coupling due to the change in the orientation of theterminal 200, the power transmission control unit 112 controls the powerconversion unit 111 to convert the inductive coupling into theelectromagnetic resonance coupling in which the change in chargingefficiency according to the distance is small.

Alternatively, the power transmission control unit 112 of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may change the wireless power transmission methodfrom the electromagnetic resonance coupling to the inductive coupling.

Alternatively, the power transmission control unit 112 of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may display, through an output unit 140, a messagefor notifying that the wireless power transmission method has beenchanged. The notification message may be implemented a message “Chargingmethod has been changed,” “Charging method is changed into xx method,”etc. The notification message may be implemented as a visual or auditorymessage, and is not limited to its form.

The notification message is not displayed through the output unit 140provided to the wireless power transmitter 100 but may be displayedthrough the output unit 250 of the terminal 200. In this case, thecontrol unit 280 of the terminal 200 controls the output unit 250 of theterminal 200 to perform an operation of notifying that thecharacteristic of the power has been changed, based on orientationinformation detected by the wireless power transmitter 100 or theterminal 200.

FIG. 7—Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the orientation of the terminal 200 ischanged, the wireless power transmitter 100 regulates a characteristicof power for forming a wireless power signal so that the powertransmission speed is increased. Specifically, if the orientation of theterminal 200 is changed into an orientation in which the display unit251 of the terminal 200 contacts the wireless power transmitter 100,i.e., an orientation in which the top and bottom of the terminal areturned over, the wireless power transmitter 100 may transmit wirelesspower with the maximum power transmission speed at which the powerconversion unit 111 can transmit the wireless power in the state inwhich the position and orientation of the terminal 200 is changed. Whenthe orientation of the terminal 200 is detected, the power transmissioncontrol unit 112 of the wireless power transmitter 100 controls thepower conversion unit 111 to transmit the wireless power with themaximum power transmission speed.

The power transmission control unit 112 of the wireless powertransmitter 100 may control all auxiliary functions being executed onthe memory of the terminal 200 to enter into a dormant state so as tomaximize the charging efficiency of the terminal 200 when the powerconversion unit 111 transfers the maximum power. Accordingly, all thetransferred power is transmitted to the battery 299 of the terminal 200without power loss due to the execution of the auxiliary functions ofthe terminal 200 during the charging of the terminal 200.

This may be represented in the form of rapid charging in the chargingmode. In this case, the charging mode of the terminal 200 may have ageneral charging mode together with the rapid charging mode, and theconversion between the general charging mode and the rapid charging modemay be performed by the change in the orientation of the terminal 200during the charging of the terminal 200.

Although it has been illustrated in FIG. 7 that when the display unit251 of the terminal 200 contacts the wireless power transmitter 100,i.e., when the surface viewing the interface surface of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 is the top side of the main body of the terminal200, the power transmission control unit 112 transfers the wirelesspower at the maximum power transmission speed, this is not limited tothe change in the orientation of the terminal 200 performing such acontrol.

Alternatively, the power transmission control unit 112 of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may display, through the output unit 140, anotification message for notifying that the wireless power istransferred with the maximum power. The notification message may bevisually or auditorily displayed, and is not limited to its form.

In this case, the notification message may be implemented as a message“Charging is performed in rapid charging mode,” “Power transmissionspeed is increased to the maximum,” etc.

The notification message is not displayed through the output unit 140provided to the wireless power transmitter 100 but may be displayedthrough the output unit 250 of the terminal 200. In this case, thecontrol unit 280 of the terminal 200 controls the output unit 250 of theterminal 200 to perform an operation of notifying that thecharacteristic of the wireless power has been changed, based onorientation information detected by the wireless power transmitter 100or the terminal 200.

Alternatively, when the orientation of the terminal 200 is changed, theterminal 200 measures a power receiving efficiency. Specifically, thecontrol unit 280 of the terminal 200 measures the power receivingefficiency using the wireless power signal changed due to the change inthe orientation of the terminal 200. When the orientation of theterminal 200 is not changed, the maximum power is transferred to theterminal 200. When the orientation of the terminal 200 is changed, powerweaker than the maximum power is transferred while the axes of the coilsrespectively provided to the wireless power transmitter 100 and theterminal 200 cross each other. In this case, the power receivingefficiency may be measured using a ratio of actually transferred powerto the maximum power.

The control unit 280 of the terminal 200 may control the terminal 200 todisplay the measured power receiving efficiency through the output unit250 provided to the terminal 200. Alternatively, the charging efficiencyis not displayed through the output unit 250 of the terminal 200 but maybe displayed through the output unit 140 of the wireless powertransmitter 100. In this case, the power transmission control unit 112of the wireless power transmitter 100 may receive the chargingefficiency calculated in the terminal 200, based on the orientationinformation of the terminal 200, through the communication and controlthe wireless power transmitter 100 to display the received chargingefficiency through the output unit 140 of the wireless power transmitter100.

FIG. 8—Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which acharacteristic of power is regulated based on the orientation of theterminal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

The wireless power transmitter 100 or the terminal 200 may include ameans allowing a user to exactly align the secondary coil of theterminal 200 with the primary coil of the wireless power transmitter100. For example, the means may provide the user with not only directionnotification representing where the user is to move the terminal 200 butalso alignment notification, e.g., a feedback representing that the userhas reached the exactly aligned position. The feedback includes a hapticfeedback.

Meanwhile, when the secondary coil of the terminal 200 is not exactlyaligned with the primary coil of the wireless power transmitter 100, thewireless power transmitter 100 may provide a visual, auditory or hapticfeedback. The visual feedback may be provided through an operation of anLED, e.g. flickering of the LED or an operation of a red LED. Theauditory feedback outputs a specific sound, and for example, may beprovided by ringing a buzzer, etc. The haptic feedback may be provided,for example, by generating vibration.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the orientation of the terminal 200 ischanged, the output unit 140 provided to the wireless power transmitter100 may display a message for notifying that the orientation of theterminal 200 has been changed. The notification message may beimplemented as one or more of an image, a voice, a beep sound and avibration of the terminal 200. The notification message may beimplemented as a message “Device is not correctly aligned,” “Please, putdevice at correct position,” “Orientation of device has been changed,”etc., and is not limited to its form.

When the wireless power transmitter 100 transmits wireless power to theterminal 200 using the inductive coupling, the intensity of the wirelesspower transmitted to the terminal 200 as the orientation of the terminal200 is changed. That is, when the alignment between the coils of thewireless power transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 is correct, theamount of wireless power to be transmitted to the terminal 200 ismaximized. When the alignment between the coils of the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the terminal 200 is incorrect due to the change inthe orientation of the terminal 200, power smaller than the maximumamount of wireless power is transmitted to the terminal 200. Thus, thewireless power transmitter 100 allows the terminal 200 to be correctlyaligned by notifying that the alignment between the coil of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 has been incorrect, so thatthe wireless power can be transmitted as the maximum power.

The notification message is not displayed through the output unit 140provided to the wireless power transmitter 100 but may be displayedthrough the output unit 250 of the terminal 200. In this case, thecontrol unit 280 of the terminal 200 controls the output unit 250 of theterminal 200 to perform an operation of notifying that thecharacteristic of the power has been changed, based on orientationinformation detected by the wireless power transmitter 100 or theterminal 200.

FIG. 9—Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9(a) is a view illustrating a state in which a call signal isreceived based on a change in orientation of the terminal. FIG. 9(b) isa view illustrating a state in which a received call is handled based ona change in orientation of the terminal.

Referring to FIG. 9(a), in case where a call is received to the mobilecommunication module 212 of the terminal 200 while the power receivingunit 291 of the terminal 200 receives power by wireless, if theorientation of the terminal 200 is changed, the control unit 280controls the terminal 200 to receive the received call and initiatecommunication.

Although it has been illustrated in FIG. 9(a) that when the direction ofthe main body of the terminal 200 is changed into a lateral direction inthe state in which the call is received to the terminal 200, the controlunit 280 controls the terminal 200 to receive the received call, this isnot particularly to the orientation of the terminal 200 performing sucha control.

When the communication is initiated due to the reception of the callreceived to the terminal 200 during the charging of the terminal 200,the control unit 280 may change a configuration so that a sound signalof the call is output to a speaker. This may be configured as a speakerphone function in the terminal 200. In this case, the sound signaloutput through the speaker may be output through the output unit 140 ofthe wireless power transmitter 100. Specifically, the sound signal ofthe call received to the terminal 200 is transmitted to thecommunication unit 130 of the wireless power transmitter 100 through theshort range communication module 214 of the terminal 200 and thenoutputted through the output unit 140 of the wireless power transmitter100. According to the embodiment, it is possible to maintaincommunication using the speaker and microphone provided to the terminal200 or the wireless power transmitter 100 without separating theterminal 200 being charged from the wireless power transmitter 100.

Referring to FIG. 9(b), if the orientation of the terminal 200 ischanged in the state in which a call is received to the mobilecommunication module 212 of the terminal 200, the control unit 280 maycontrol the terminal 200 to receive the call and transmit voice data toanother terminal, or may control the terminal 200 not to receive but tocharacter data to another terminal receiving the call. This may beoperated in a communication initiation mode or reception rejection modeof the call.

Although it has been illustrated in FIG. 9(b) that when the orientationin which the display unit 251 of the terminal 200 contacts the wirelesspower transmitter 100 is changed in the state in which the call isreceived to the terminal 200, the reception rejection function of theterminal 200 is activated in case where the surface viewing theinterface surface of the wireless power transmitter 100 is the top sideof the main terminal of the terminal 200, this is not limited to theorientation of the terminal 200 performing such a control.

FIG. 10—Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the orientation of the terminal 200 ischanged, the control unit 280 of the terminal 200 may execute apredetermined program. In this case, the executed program may includevarious applications including multimedia reproduction, which areembedded in the terminal 200.

When the predetermined program is the multimedia reproduction, thecontrol unit 280 may control the terminal 200 to reproduce multimediainformation. The multimedia information may include moving picture,music and DMB information stored in the memory 260 of the terminal 200.

If the orientation of the terminal 200 is changed in case where thepredetermined program is the multimedia reproduction, the terminal 200may reproduce the multimedia information through the output unit 140 ofthe wireless power transmitter 100. Specifically, the short rangecommunication module 214 of the terminal 200 may transmit datacontaining the multimedia information to the communication unit 130 ofthe wireless power transmitter 100 so that the multimedia information isreproduced through the output unit 140 of the wireless power transmitter100. In this case, an event may occur not only when a change in theorientation of the terminal 200 being charged is detected but also whenthe charging of the terminal 200 is initiated by allowing the terminal200 reproducing the multimedia information to contact the wireless powertransmitter 100 in the state in which the orientation of the terminal200 is change and simultaneously, the wireless power transmitter 100detects the changing of the terminal and outputs the multimediainformation through the output unit 140.

FIG. 11—Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view illustrating a state in which aconfiguration is changed based on the orientation of the terminalaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the wireless power transmitter 100 may displayinformation of a call received to the terminal 200 through the outputunit 140. Specifically, when the call is received to the mobilecommunication module 212, the terminal 200 transmits sender informationof the received call to the communication unit 130 of the wireless powertransmitter 100 so that the sender information is displayed through theoutput unit 140 of the wireless power transmitter 100.

The sender information of the call may include a sender's name, asender's call number, a sender's image data stored in the terminal 200,etc.

The control unit 180 may control the information of the call transmittedthrough the communication unit 130 to be output through the output unit140 provided to the wireless power transmitter 100. The information ofthe call may be visually or auditorily output, and is not limited to itsform.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 11, when the received call is receivedto the terminal 200 during the charging of the terminal 200 according tothe embodiment of FIG. 10 so that communication is initiated, theterminal 200 transmits visual or auditory information of thecommunication initiated through the wireless communication module 214through the communication unit 130 of the wireless power transmitter100. The visual or auditory information refers to informationtransmitted through the mobile communication module 212 through a basestation so that voice or video communication between terminals 200 ispossible.

The visual or auditory information of the transmitted call may be outputthrough the output unit 140 of the wireless power transmitter 100.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdisclosed in this specification, and it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madethereto within the technical spirit and scope defined by the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless power transmitter fortransmitting power by wireless to a terminal, comprising: a powerconversion unit configured to form a wireless power signal for wirelesspower transfer using power supplied from a power supply unit; and apower transmission control unit configured to detect an orientation ofthe terminal, based on a change in the power for forming the wirelesspower signal and regulate a characteristic of the supplied power, basedon orientation information of the terminal, wherein the characteristicof the supplied power is regulated so that a wireless power transmissionmethod is converted, and the wireless power transmission method includesinductive coupling or electromagnetic resonance coupling, and whereinthe wireless power transmission method is converted from the inductivecoupling to the electromagnetic resonance coupling when axes of coils ofthe wireless power transmitter and the terminal cross each other due toa change in the orientation of the terminal.
 2. The wireless powertransmitter of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the supplied poweris regulated so that a power transmission speed is increased, andwherein the power transmission speed is changed from general charging torapid charging by controlling functions being executed on the terminalto enter into a dormant state when the orientation of the terminal isnot changed and the axes of coils of the wireless power transmitter andthe terminal do not cross each other.
 3. The wireless power transmitterof claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to visually orauditorily output the orientation information or information on theregulated characteristic of the power.
 4. The wireless power transmitterof claim 1, wherein the power transmission control unit detects theorientation of the terminal, based on a change in the power for formingthe wireless power signal.
 5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1,further comprising a communication unit configured to perform datacommunication with the terminal, wherein the power transmission controlunit receives the orientation information through the communicationunit.
 6. A terminal comprising: a power receiving unit configured toreceive a wireless power signal formed by a wireless power transmitterin a wireless power transmission method; and a control unit configuredto detect whether or not an orientation of the terminal is changed whilethe wireless power signal is received, and transmit a control messagefor power regulation to the wireless power transmitter when the changein the orientation of the terminal is detected, wherein the wirelesspower signal wireless power transmission method is converted from aninductive coupling to an electromagnetic resonance coupling when axes ofcoils of the wireless power transmitter and the terminal cross eachother due to a change in the orientation of the terminal.
 7. Theterminal of claim 6, wherein the control message for power regulation isa message that requests the wireless power transmitter to finish thewireless power transfer through the wireless power signal.
 8. Theterminal of claim 6, wherein the control message for power regulation isa message that requests the wireless power transmitter to convert thepower transmission method.
 9. The terminal of claim 6, wherein thecontrol message for power regulation is a message that requests thewireless power transmitter to change the power transmission speed of thewireless power signal.
 10. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the controlunit determines the power transmission speed, based on the changedorientation of the terminal, and changes the power transmission speedfrom general charging to rapid charging by controlling functions beingexecuted on the terminal to enter into a dormant state when theorientation of the terminal is not changed and the axes of coils of thewireless power transmitter and the terminal do not cross each other. 11.The terminal of claim 6, wherein when the change of the orientation ofthe terminal is detected, the control unit controls the terminal tooutput information on the transmitted power.
 12. The terminal of claim6, wherein when the change in the orientation of the terminal isdetected, and the strength of the wireless power signal is smaller thana threshold value, the control unit visually or auditorily notifies thatthe orientation of the terminal has been changed.
 13. The terminal ofclaim 6, wherein when the change in the orientation of the terminal isdetected, the control unit executes a predetermined program.
 14. Theterminal of claim 6, wherein when the change in the orientation of theterminal is detected, the control unit changes a configuration, based onthe changed orientation of the terminal.
 15. The terminal of claim 14,wherein the orientation of the terminal represents a direction of theterminal placed on an interface surface of the wireless powertransmitter, and the direction of the terminal is determined based onwhether the direction of the terminal is a relative direction of a mainbody of the terminal with respect to a reference location on theinterface surface or a direction in which the main body of the terminalviews the interface surface.
 16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein thecontrol unit detects the change in the orientation of the terminal bydetecting whether the direction of the main body of the terminal ischanged between portrait and landscape directions or whether the surfaceviewing the interface surface is changed between top and bottom sides ofthe main body of the terminal.
 17. The terminal of claim 14, whereinwhen the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, thecontrol unit changes the configuration so that a sound signal is outputto a speaker.
 18. The terminal of claim 14, wherein when the change inthe orientation of the terminal is detected during receiving of a callsignal, the control unit receives the call signal and changes theconfiguration so that a sound signal is output to a speaker.
 19. Theterminal of claim 14, wherein when the change in the orientation of theterminal is detected during receiving of a call signal, the control unitreceives the call and transmits voice data to another terminal receivingthe call, or does not receive the call but transmits text data toanother terminal receiving the call.
 20. A method of transmitting powerby wireless to a terminal, the method comprising: forming a wirelesspower signal for wireless power transfer using power supplied from apower supply unit; detecting an orientation of the terminal, based on achange in the power for forming the wireless power signal; andregulating a characteristic of the supplied power, based on orientationinformation of the terminal, wherein the characteristic of the suppliedpower is regulated so that a wireless power transmission method isconverted, and the wireless power transmission method includes inductivecoupling or electromagnetic resonance coupling, and wherein the wirelesspower transmission method is converted from the inductive coupling tothe electromagnetic resonance coupling when axes of coils of thewireless power transmitter and the terminal cross each other due to achange in the orientation of the terminal.
 21. A method of controlling aterminal, the method comprising: receiving a wireless power signalformed by a wireless power transmitter in a wireless power transmissionmethod; and detecting whether or not an orientation of the terminal ischanged during receiving of the wireless power signal, and transmittinga control message for power regulation to the wireless power transmitterwhen the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected, whereinthe wireless power signal wireless power transmission method isconverted from an inductive coupling to an electromagnetic resonancecoupling when axes of coils of the wireless power transmitter and theterminal cross each other due to a change in the orientation of theterminal.